Sources declared that there were three people in the candidate list to a position of the Minister of Economic Development.

Deputy Minister of Finance Maxim Oreshkin became the new Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared his appointment, Interfax reports.

“Maksim Stanislavovich, you work not so long, but in general a lot and successfully. I want to offer you a position of the Minister of Economic Development”, Putin told at meeting with Oreshkin.

Oreshkin answered: “I agree”. Maksim Oreshkin worked in the Ministry of Finance since March, 2015. The new Head of the Minister of Economic Development is 34 years old.

Earlier, sources of Dozhd called Governor of the Tyumen Region Vladimir Yakushev an applicant for a post of the Minister. Sources of RNS declared that there were three people in the candidate list to a position of the Minister of Economic Development.

The main applicant for the post was called First Deputy Administrator of the Government Office Maksim Akimov, Special Advisor to the President Andrey Belousov heading the Ministry of Economic Development in 2012-2013 and Vice-Chairman of the Central Bank Ksenia Yudayeva were also included in a short list.

According to RNS, Alexey Kudrin was also offered to become the Minister of Economic Development. Besides, RNS called Head of the Federal Tax Service Mikhail Mishustin an applicant for a position of the minister.

Before appointment of the new Head of the MED Deputy Head ofthe Department Evgeny Elin was acting as the minister since November 16. Former Head of the Ministry of Economic Development Alexey Ulyukaev was dismissed on November 15 by Russian President Vladimir Putin in connection with loss of trust. Earlier on the same day Ulyukaev was sent under house arrest under the case of extortion.

According to investigating officers, Ulyukaev extorted $2 million from Rosneft for positive assessment of the transaction on privatization of a state block of shares of Bashneft. The former Minister was accused of crime under part 6 Art. 290 of Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Bribe-Taking by a person who holds a government post of the Russian Federation with extortion of a bribe on a large scale).

According to Reuters, shortly before his arrest Ulyukaev suggested to discuss an opportunity to lower a share of the state in Rosneft. At the same time, sources of the agency did not provide any evidences that the detention of the former minister was connected with this question.

Ulyukaev does not admit his guilt in extortion, he emphasized that he is ready “to cooperate with the investigation as much as possible”. On court session on appeal of a measure of restraint on November 28 former minister asked to permit him communication with the media to tell about his point of view concerning the case, but the Moscow City Court did not satisfy the petition.